This came out in 2003 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
If you weren’t paying attention, you could be excused for confusing The (International) Noise Conspiracy with The Hives.
After all, they’re both from Sweden. They both rock the matching outfiits. They have singers who can shuck and jive like a young Mick Jagger and swing the mic like Roger Daltrey. And they both cross old James Brown grooves and Rolling Stones riffs with punk-rock attitude. So why aren’t the (I)NC as big as The Hives? Well, maybe because their lyrics are more political. Maybe because their grooves are a little edgier and less commercial. Or maybe, as their newest EP Bigger Cages, Longer Chains suggests, they spend more time making music than sucking up to MTV. Of the six tunes here, one came from their last album, one is a smoulderingly funky cover of N.E.R.D.’s Baby Doll and four are brand spankin’ new — and just as high in IQ and energy as anything that’s been on their albums. And if that ain’t enough, the disc includes four CD-ROM videos and some Noam Chomsky commentary. So never mind The Hives; these are the guys that deserve the buzz.
